Bolo clasp

ABSTRACT

A bolo clasp comprising a base 3, means 9 carried by the base defining a pair of recesses that open toward the base, a clamping member 21 disposed between the base and each recess, and means 29 yieldably urging the clamping member away from the base and toward the recesses, said yieldable means comprising a coil compression spring disposed between the base and the clamping member.

0 United States Patent [151 3,675,277 Day [4 1 Jul 11 1972 [s41 BOLO CLASP 2,462,969 3/l949 Holiiday ..24/8l cc x m] Inventor: John W my 551 South Memorial Dnve' 2,637,884 5/l953 Morehouse ..24/49 5 ux Tum Okla- 12 Primary xaminer-Donald A. Griffin 22 Filed: on. ll, I966 ""8 Tmmpso" 211 App]. No.: 585,820 57] ABSTRACT A hole clasp comprising a base 3, means 9 carried by the base 52 us. Cl. ..24/49 s definifla a P of mm Open toward lhc basea clamp 5| in. CI. ..A4ld 25/14 21 and recess [58] mama 2/148 lso- 24/49s us a and m 29 yiddab'y urging damping away 7 3 CH 73 from the base and toward the receses, said yieldable means I 2 comprising a coil compression spring disposed between the base and the clamping member. [56] References Clted 6 Claim, 4 [hawlng Figures UNiTED STATES PATENTS 300,065 6/1884 Gibbons ..24/73 CH BOLO CLASP The present invention relates to bolo clasps, more particularly of the type that are selectively adjustable lengthwise of their associated cord.

A bolo is an article of neckwear much favored in the western parts of the United States, and also elsewhere. It consists of a braided cord having two free ends, and a clasp for drawing the cord together in front of the neck of the wearer, at about the location of the knot of a necktie. At least one length of the cord is slidable through the clasp, so that the bolo can be loosened for putting it on and taking it off, and then tightened for wearing.

In the past, bolo clasps have suffered from the disadvantage that they imposed undue wear on the cord and were difficult to operate. If the clasp gripped the cord tightly enough to ensure against slippage while the bolo was being worn, then sliding the cord through the clasp would soon cause the cord to wear and become unsightly. On the other hand, if the clasp was loose enough that it did not impose much wear on the cord, then it would loosen and slip down when being worn.

Proposals have been made to provide clamping means for bolo clasps, which could be selectively engaged and disengaged from the cord to facilitate adjustment. In each case, however, the structure has been operable only with difficulty or has been undesirably complicated.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bolo clasp which imposes a minimum of wear on the cord.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bolo clasp which will be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and disassemble to and from the cord and to adjust relative to the cord, and which will be rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a bolo having a clasp according to the present invention, with parts of the cord broken away;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a bolo having a clasp according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly view of a bolo clasp according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view of a complete bolo having a clasp according to the present invention, showing in full lines the position of the bolo clasp when it is worn and in phantom lines the position of the bolo clasp when it is being put on or taken off.

Referring to the drawing now in greater detail, there is shown a bolo clasp indicated generally at 1, comprising a sheet metal member providing a base 3 having upstanding flanges 5 bent up from the sheet material of the clasp along bend lines 7 that are inclined to each other at a small acute angle. Flanges 5 are further bent over toward each other in arcuate bends to form lips 9 which define on their inner sides recesses 11 that extend lengthwise of and parallel to their respective bend lines 7 and that are disposed between lips 9 and base 3. The lips 9 are in two portions spaced lengthwise from each other by a gap 13.

Tabs 15 are struck from the material of base 3 and are bent up away from base 3 into general parallelism with each other. Lengthwise of the clasp l, the tabs 15 are about on a level with gaps 13.

A clamping member 17 is also provided, in the form of a strip of metal which has been bent to hat-shaped cross section. A central recess I9 is thus formed by the portion of the hatshaped cross section corresponding to the crown of the hat, the recess 19 being bordered laterally by sides 21 disposed generally perpendicularly to the plane of base 3, and a bottom 23 disposed generally parallel to the plane of base 3. Bars 25 extend outwardly from the inner ends of sides 21, and correspond in the hat-shaped cross section to the brim of a hat. Preferably, the outer ends of ears 25 are concave and open away from base 3 and toward recesses 11, as best seen in FIG.

The ears 25 adjacent their inner ends are pierced by recesses 27 in which tabs 15 are slidably disposed. The tabs 15 and recesses 27 thus provide guide means which limit the movement of clamping member 17 to movement toward and away from base 3.

A coil compression spring 29 is disposed at one end in recess 19 and at its other end bears against base 3 between tabs 15. If desired, the end of spring 29 in recess 19 can be welded to the adjacent surface of bottom 23.

To assemble the bolo clasp, it is necessary only to move the parts together from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 2. The ears 25 pass through the gaps 13, and the tabs 15 enter the recesses 27. Pressure of the finger on bottom 23 then forces clamping member [7 toward base 3 against the action of spring 29, to the phantom line position of the parts shown in FIG. 2. The ends of the bolo cord can then be slipped lengthwise through the recesses 11 between the lips 9 and the ears 25, to the position shown in FIG. 2, after which the pressure on clamping member 17 can be released and spring 29 will urge clamping member 17 to the full line posi tion of FIG. 2, in which the lips 9 and the ears 25 grasp and releasably clamp the cord between them. Also, to slide clasp I back and forth on the cord between the positions of FIG. 4, it is necessary only to pres on opposite surfaces of bottom 23 of clamping member 17 and base 3, in order to move the clamping member and the base toward each other to release the clamping pressure on the cord.

In speaking of recesses 11, it is considered that each recess 11 extends the full length of clasp l, and that the gap 13 does not interrupt the recess itself, but only interrupts the lips 9 which define the recess. Thus, in this sense, the ears 25 pass through the recess on assembly and disassembly and are opposed to the recess despite the fact that the ears 25 do not actually underlie the spaced portions of the lips 9.

The bolo clasp may be in its final form as shown in FIGS. 1-3, or its surface opposite clamping member 17 may be used as a base for cementing on a stone or other decoration as indicated in FIG. 4.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will be evident that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

It will also be evident that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the inven tion, as those skilled in this art will readily understand. For example, instead of extending toward each other as in the illustrated embodiment, the lips 9 may extend away from each other. These and other modifications and variations are within the purview and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

I. A bolo clasp comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a pair of recesses that open toward the base, a clamping member disposed between the base and each recess, and means yieldably urging the clamping member away from the base and toward the recesses, said yieldable means comprising a coil compression spring disposed between the base and the clamping member.

2. A bolo clasp as claimed in claim 1, said clamping member having a recess opening toward the base in which one end of said coil compression spring is disposed.

3. A bolo clasp comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a pair of recesses that open toward the base, a clamping member disposed between the base and each recess, means yieldably urging the clamping member away from the base and toward the recesses, and guide means engageable between the base and the clamping member to limit movement of the clamping member to movement toward and away from the base, said guide means comprising projections on the base engageable in recesses in the clamping member.

4. A bolo clasp comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a pair of recesses that open toward the base, a clamping member disposed between the base and each recess, and means yieldably urging the clamping member away from the base and toward the recesses, the base comprising a metal sheet having its edges bentup and over in flanges that define said recesses, said clamping member having a hat-shaped cross section defining a recess that opens toward the base, said yieldable means comprising a coil compression spring having one end disposed in said recess of the clamping member and acting between the base and the clamping member, the clamping member having oppositely extending ears disposed between the base and each flange recess.

5. A bolo clasp as claimed in claim 4, each said flange being 

1. A bolo clasp comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a pair of recesses that open toward the base, a clamping member disposed between the base and each recess, and means yieldably urging the clamping member away from the base and toward the recesses, said yieldable means comprisIng a coil compression spring disposed between the base and the clamping member.
 2. A bolo clasp as claimed in claim 1, said clamping member having a recess opening toward the base in which one end of said coil compression spring is disposed.
 3. A bolo clasp comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a pair of recesses that open toward the base, a clamping member disposed between the base and each recess, means yieldably urging the clamping member away from the base and toward the recesses, and guide means engageable between the base and the clamping member to limit movement of the clamping member to movement toward and away from the base, said guide means comprising projections on the base engageable in recesses in the clamping member.
 4. A bolo clasp comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a pair of recesses that open toward the base, a clamping member disposed between the base and each recess, and means yieldably urging the clamping member away from the base and toward the recesses, the base comprising a metal sheet having its edges bent up and over in flanges that define said recesses, said clamping member having a hat-shaped cross section defining a recess that opens toward the base, said yieldable means comprising a coil compression spring having one end disposed in said recess of the clamping member and acting between the base and the clamping member, the clamping member having oppositely extending ears disposed between the base and each flange recess.
 5. A bolo clasp as claimed in claim 4, each said flange being in two spaced portions with a gap between, said ears passing through said gaps for assembly and disassembly of the clasp.
 6. A bolo clasp as claimed in claim 4, and tabs bent up from the sheet metal of the base and extending through recesses in each said ear of the clamping member to permit movement of the clamping member to movement toward and away from the base. 